Following the recent incident, authorities are still permitting Belarusian citizens to travel, as long as they are willing to sign a waiver on departure to Israel, stating that they are aware of the possible dangers.
Tourist agencies note that traditional religious-pilgrimage tours are still selling well, as are those to the Dead Sea. However, there has been no sharp growth in tourist numbers, as holidaying at the Red Sea isn’t cheap.
Minsk hopes that the visa-free regime will encourage Israelis to travel to Belarus, for eco-trips and religious tourism. “For Israelis who have roots in Belarus, our country remains a second homeland. There are many places of Jewish religious and spiritual significance here,” believes Vladimir Skvortsov, the Belarusian Ambassador to Israel.
By Tatiana Borisova
